Environmental Effects on Iowa’s Apples

The phenomena is blemishes on a Granny Smith apple, grown in Algona, Iowa, in the fall of 2022. The apple contains many blemishes on the outer skin from rubbing against sticks and leaves. These blemishes are likely caused by the environmental factors surrounding the apple. One example of an environmental factor is the wind, which likely blew the apple up against the branches creating the small brown blemishes. (Please note this apple was grown in the north central area of Iowa on a backyard tree that had very little seclusion from the wind. Therefore this likely provided a good opportunity for the apple to be influenced by its environment.)